NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Overcoming a game-ending injury to their best player midway through the second period, the Nashville Predators equaled the Western Conference quarterfinal series against the Chicago Blackhawks at a game apiece Friday night.

Predators defenseman Shea Weber left with a lower-body injury early in the second period, but it didn't matter after the team blew the game open with three goals in a 2:19 span late in the third period of a 6-2 win over the Blackhawks at sold-out Bridgestone Arena.

Center Filip Forsberg pounced on the rebound of a shot by center Craig Smith and scored his first of the playoffs at 12:41. Smith tacked on a breakaway tally at 14:28, his second of the night, and center Mike Santorelli collected his first goal at 15:00.

Predators goalie Pekka Rinne made 24 saves, while Chicago's Corey Crawford stopped 29 of 35 shots in a performance which may land him back on the bench for Game 3 on Sunday at the United Center in Chicago.

Crawford was pulled after the first period of Wednesday night's 4-3 double overtime win after giving up three goals on 12 shots. Backup Scott Darling didn't allow a goal over the last 67-plus minutes, bagging 42 saves, but coach Joel Quenneville called it an easy decision to start Crawford again Friday.

Nashville center Colin Wilson struck first for the second straight game, potting a power-play marker on a wrister from a bad angle at 2:47 of the first period. It was Wilson's third goal of the series.

Chicago tied it at 16:13 on a delayed penalty. Left winger Patrick Sharp roofed a wrister over Rinne for his second goal in as many games.

Predators defenseman Roman Josi provided his team with a 2-1 lead at 19:56, stickhandling through most of the Blackhawk defense and rifling a wrister by Crawford.

Blackhawks right winger Patrick Kane evened the score at 10:32 of the second period, winning a race to a loose puck on a shot from center ice by defenseman Brent Seabrook before beating Rinne with a wrister to the glove side.

The Predators regained the lead at 14:54 when Smith swatted home the rebound of a shot by defenseman Cody Franson.

NOTES: Chicago G Scott Darling set an NHL record with 67:49 of scoreless goaltending in a relief appearance when he got the win Wednesday night. He is the first Blackhawks rookie goalie to win his playoff debut since Ed Belfour did it 25 years ago. ... Nashville C Mike Fisher, who left Wednesday night's game in the second period with a lower-body injury, was scratched. ... Chicago D Niklas Hjalmarsson scored his second career playoff goal in the second period Wednesday night. His first was five years ago, also against the Predators. ... Nashville D Cody Franson replaced D Anton Volchenkov on a pairing with D Seth Jones for Game 2.